Ball-winding machine.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

A. MANTENFEL.

BALL WINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.12,1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905. A. MANTENPEL.

BALL WINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.12, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 798,000 PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905. A. MANTENFEL.

BALL WINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.12,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented June 20, 1905.

UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFIcE.

AUGUST .\I.'-\NIENFEL, OF GHlCM-IU, ILLINOIS.

BALL-WINDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,000, dated June 20,1905.

Application filed October 12, 1904. Serial No. 223,212.

To (/J/ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUeUs'r )L-iN'lIGNFlQL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ball-\VindingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ball-winding machines intended especially foruse in the constrnction of base-balls, and has for its objects toproduce a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this characterin which the yarn will be wound in true spherical form and in hardcompact condition and one wherein as the winding progresses the ballcarrying and guiding mechanism will be moved rearward from theball-turning wheel and automatically lock upon the ball attaining acertain predetermined size.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an improved adjustabletension mechanism for holding the ball-carrying device to its work, atension device for automatically tensioning the belt during movements ofthe carrier which sustains the ball-supportingdevices, and an alarmwhich will be automatically sounded upon the ball attaining the propersize.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved shiftingmechanism for imparting alternate longitudinal movement to theball-sustaining rollers relative one to the other.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention comprises the novelfeatures of con struction and combination of parts more fullyhereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a side elevation of a machineembodying the invention. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same. Fig. 3 isa rear end elevation partly in section. Fig. a is a perspective view ofthe belt-tensioning device. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of thecarriage-locking member. Fig. I is a plan view of the carriagetensioningmeans. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the side platesemployed in the carriage-tensioning device. Fig. 8 is a perspective viewof one of the shaft-boxes,

showing the parts thereof disconnected. Fig. I nally of the base-plate lis a carriage 16,hav- I00 9 is a perspective view of the shifting-camemployed in connection with the ball-retaining rollers. Figs. 10 and 11are perspective views, respectively, of the primary and secondaryroller-supporting frames employed in the ball retaining and guidingmechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a bed 0r base plate provided atits forward end with lateral extensions 2, on each of which is disposedone of a pair of oppositely-disposed vertically-uprising and perforatedblocks 3, which receive, respectively, the lower ends of vertical postsor standards at, these posts being provided at their upper ends withsubstantially Ushaped bearing-heads 5, into the opposite vertical armsor portions of which are tapped set-screws 6, while the lower ends ofthe standardsiare secured fixedly in place within the blocks 3 by meansof set-screws 7. Disposed in each of the bearing-heads5 and clampedtherein by means of the set-screws 6 is a tubular bearing-sleeve orjournal-box 8, and these bearing-sleeves which are arranged in axialendwise alinement have journaled therein a shaft 9, on which is fixed aball turning or rotating wheel 10, preferably provided with a roughenedsurface, as shown, there being also lixed upon said shaft, which carriesa main belt-wheel 11, a grooved belt-pulley 12, suitable collars 13 formaintaining the shaft against endwise movement being lixed upon theshaft by set-screws or otherwise. The journal-boxes S are each formed intwo sections of semicircular form in cross-section provided withcorresponding perforated cars 14: for the reception of screws or boltsby means of which the sections are detachahly connected, while the lowerbox-section has at its longitudinal center a substantially U-shapedbearing portion or collar 15, the ends of which all'o rd bearing for theset-screwsG while clamping the boxes within the heads It is to beobserved that under this construction the amount of wear upon thejourmil-boxes is minimized and that the sections of the boxes may bereadily disconnected for packing the latter or removing them from theheads 5 when impaired by wear or other causes.

Arranged for sliding movement longitudiing at its rear end a handpieceor loop 17 and attached at its forward end to a pair of springs 18,which are in turn engaged with a member or pin 19, extended between apair of spaced side plates 20, bolted or otherwise secured to thebase-plate 1 beneath the wheel 10, these plates being provided with alongitudinal series of spaced openings 21, designed to receive the pin19 and permit adjustment of the latter for varying the tension of thesprings 18. The carriage 16 has its longitudinal edges downwardly andoutwardly beveled or inclined and is retained in position upon thebase-plate 1 by means of guide members or plates 22 23, the inner edgesof which are beveled to correspond with the adjacent edges of thecarriage. These plates are secured in place by bolts or the like, andthe plate 23 is slotted transversely, as at 24, for the reception of itsattaching-bolts to thus permit of its adjustment toward and from thecarriage 16 in order to compensate for wear occurring during theoperation of the device, while the plate 22 has formed therein adjacentto its rear end a vertical socket or keeper 25, designed for thereception of the depending portion 26 of a latch 27, pivotally mountedupon the carriage-plate 16. This latch normally rides over thcface ofthe plate 22, and when the plate 16 reaches thelimit of its rearwardmovement the latch automatically engages the keeper for locking thecarriage against further movement, the latch being provided with afinger-piece 28, whereby it will be readily manipulated for releasingthe carriage.

Attached to the carriage-plate 16 is a substantially U-shaped frame 29,having oppositely disposed and spaced side portions 30, provided withbearings for a series of shafts 31, 32, and 33, of which the shaft 33has pivoted thereon and adapted to be fixed by suitable set-screws 34 aprimary shifting-frame 35, which is slotted at its upper ends for thereception of a shaft 36, upon which is loosely journaled for rotationand longitudinal movement a concaved roller 37, provided at itslongitudinal center with a peripheral groove 38, this roller beingadapted to cooperate with a cylindrical roller 39 for retaining andguiding a ball during the operation of winding the latter. The roller 39is journaled loosely for rotation and longitudinal movement on a shaft41, mounted in suitable bearing-sockets at the upper end of a secondaryshifting-frame 42, pivoted upon the shaft 31 and adapted to be fixed inposition thereon by means of setscrews 43, attention being directed tothe fact that the ends of the shaft 36 are fixed by means of set-screwsin bearings formed in the frame 29, while the ends of shaft 41 arelikewise fixed by set-screws in bearings formed in adjustable guideplates or hangers 44, attached by slot-and-bolt connections with theside plates 30 of the frame.

The shaft 32 has fixed thereon at its longitudinal center adiagonally-inclined shifting member or cam 45, the peripheral edge ofwhich engages U shaped throat pieces or blocks 46 47, fixed,respectively, upon the shafts 31 33, while upon the shaft 32 there isalso fixed a grooved belt-pulley 48, connected by a belt49 with thepulley 12, fixed upon the main drive-shaft 9, this latter shaft beingdriven from any suitable source of power, preferably by means of a beltworking upon the pulley 11. nection that when the shaft 9 is driven theball-turning wheel 10 will be rotated and at the same time rotary motionwill be imparted, through the medium of the pulley and belt connections,to the shaft 32 and the cam fixed thereon, and that during rotation ofthe latter a reverse longitudinal reciprocation will be imparted to theshafts 31 and 33, thereby causing the shifting-frames fixed upon saidshafts to move the rollers 37 and 39 in reverse directionslongitudinally of their respective shafts 36 41, thus imparting to theball 40, retained between its rollers, a rotary motion in onedirection-or, that is, in a direction longitudinally of the rollers 3739--while a rotary motion in a direction transversely of said rollerswill be imparted to the ball by the action thereon of the turning-roller10. Thus it will be seen that during the operation of the device theball is subjected to auniversal rotation for winding the yarn smoothlyand evenly thereon. As the ball 40 increases in size during the windingoperation it will serve to force the carriage 16 rearward, and in orderthat the carriage may have a proper movement for this purpose the belt49 is of an appropriate length, and when the carriage is in its forwardposition or in intermediate positions the slack therein will be taken upby means of a tension mechanism now to be described and in which 50 is agrooved tension-roller journaled in a vertically-adjustable fork 51,having a slot-and-bolt connection with the outer end of an arm 52,pivoted at its inner end between bearing-ears arising from a base-plate53, bolted or otherwise secured to the bed 1 in position for the roller50 to bear upon the lower run of the belt 49, there being engaged at oneend with the arm 52 a tensionspring 54, the other end of which engages astandard 55 arising from the plate 53. The spring 54 acts to swing thearm 52 rearward on its pivot and cause the roller 50 to exert the properamount of tension upon the belt 49 for maintaining the latter tight uponthe pulleys 12 and 48 throughout the movements of the carriage 16, itbeing noted that forward movement of the carriage toward the wheel 10 islimited by means of a bolt or other stop member 56.

Mounted upon the guide-rail 23 is a hell or gong 57, adjacent to whichis pivoted a springcontrolled hammer 58, having adjacent to its It is tobe noted in this conpivot a projecting portion or linger 59, designed tolie in the path of an abutment 61), fixed upon the carriage 16 in suchposition that when the latter reaches the limit of its rearward movementat the completion of the ball-winding operation the abutment 60 contactswith the cam-linger 59, thus actuating the hammer for sounding the gong,while at the same time. the portion 26 of the latch member engages thekeeper 2-5 for locking the carriage against further rearward movement.

Arising from the carriage 16 adjacent its rear end is a post or standard61, having a forked upper end in which is pivoted a tension device (32,comprising a rigid member or base 63 and a pressiu'e-spring 64, securedat one end to the base and having its other end free for movement. Thefree end of the spring seats between a pair of lateral members orflanges at the forward end of the member 63 and is tensioned by means ofa screw 65, while through the base 63 is tapped a screw (if), whichmaybemanipulated for rais ing the free end of the spring to relieve thepressure exerted thereby, it being noted that the flange member 67 atone side of the forward end of the spring is pivoted and may be turneddownward to permit introduction of the yarn beneath the spring, afterwhich the screws 5 and 66 may be regulated for properly adjusting thepressure exerted by the spring (A upon the yarn,and thus regulate thetension of the latter while being wound upon the ball, it being obviousthat after the parts have been once adjusted a uniform tension will beexerted upon the yarn throughout the entire winding operation and thatthe yarn in feeding from the tension device to the ball seats within thegroove 38 of the roller 37.

In the general operation of the machine a suitable core of rubber orother appropriate material is arranged between the rollers 37 39 andwheel 10, and the yarn which may be drawn from any suitable source ofsupply after being properly engaged with the tension device has its endstarted upon the core. The shaft 9 is then set in motion whereby thewheel 10 will act, as heretofore explained, for rotating the ball andpower will be transmitted from the shaft 2) to the shaft 32, therebyoperating the shiftingmechanism for causing the rollers 373$) to feedthe ball back and forth across the face of the wheel 10. As the ballincreases in size the carriage l6 and its attendant parts move againstthe action of the tension-springs l8, while the belt-tensioningmechanism yields to permit the belt to distend during the rearwardmovement of the carriage. soon as the ballhas reached the properpredetermined size the gong 57 will be sounded, as heretofore explained,while the latch 27 will simultaneously lock the carriage againstmovement. After the completed ball has been removed the latch may bemanipulated for releasing the carriage,

which will then move forward under the influence of the springs 18 untilcomingin contact with the abutment 56, while at the same time the spring54: will move the tensioningroller 50 to take up slack in and maintainthe belt at) taut.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I produce a simple el'licientdevice which in practice will admirably perform its functions to theattainment of the ends in view, it being understood that minor changesin the details herein set forth may he resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Ilaving thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is-I. In a device of the class described, a retary turning-wheel, acarriage movable toward and from the wheel, ball-retaining rollerscarried by the carriage and adapted for rotation, means for moving therollers in reverse directions longitudinally of each other, and meansfor driving the turning-wheel.

2. In a device of theclassdescribed, a main d rive-shaft, a turning-wheel carried thereby, a carriage movable toward and from theturning-wheel, a pairof ball-retaining rollers carried by the carriage,a cam-shaft, a cam mounted thereon and operatively engaged with theball-retaining rollers and operable for moving the latter in reversedirections longitinlinally, and means for driving the main and camshafts.

3. In a device of the class described, a main d rive-shaft, aturningavheel carried thereby, a carriage movable toward and from thewheel, ball-retaining rollers carried by the carriage and movable inreverse directions longitudinally, a cam-shaft sustained upon thecarriage and having a cam operatively connected with the rollers forshifting the latter, a belt connecting the main and cam shafts, and atension device for maintaining the belt taut.

at. In a device of the class described, a main drive-shaft, aturning-wheel carried thereby, a carriage movable toward and from thewheel, a frame sustained by the carriage, a pair of ball retainingrollers mounted within the frame and movable in reverse directionslongitudinally, roller-shifting frames sustained within the first-namedframe and adapted to act upon and move the rollers, a cam-shaft providedwith a cam operatively engaged with and for actuating theshifting-'frames, and means for driving the main and cam shafts.

In a device of the class described, a rotary turning-wheel, a carriagemovable toward and from the latter, ball retaining and shifting devicescarried by the carriage, means for automatically moving thecarriagetoward the turning-wheel, said carriage being movable from thewheel by the action of the ball while being wound, and means forautomatically locking the carriage at the completion of the windingoperation.

6. In adevice of the class described, a main drive-shaft, aturning-wheel mounted thereon, a carriage movable toward and from theturning-wheel, a pair of ball-retaining" rollers carried by the carriageand movable longitudinally in reverse directions, a earn-shaft sustainedupon the carriage, a cam fixed upon the shaft and operatively connectedwith the rollers for shifting the latter, a belt operatively connectingthe main and cam shafts, atension means acting to draw the carriagetoward the turning-wheel, said carriage being movable in the reversedirection by the action of the ball while being wound, and a tensiondevice for maintaining the belt taut during the movements of thecarriage.

7. In a device of the class described, a ballwinding mechanism includinga movable carriage, an alarm, means operable by the carriage forsounding the alarm on the completion of the ball, and means forsimultaneously locking the carriage against movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

AUGUST MANTENFEL.

WVitnesses:

XVILLIAM RUF, HERMAN BRUTZKE.

